Chapter 33

Summary

• Blackthorne wakes at dawn alone, realizing his romantic encounter was not a dream.
• Fujiko, a maid, brings him breakfast and assists with his morning routine, revealing nothing about the previous night's events.
• Mysterious events from the previous night trouble Blackthorne, he wishes they remain secret.
• Fujiko prepares him to meet Mariko, who waits outside with horses and samurai.
• Mariko and Blackthorne exchange polite greetings, both carefully hiding their feelings in public.
• Once alone, Blackthorne confesses his love for Mariko in Latin, but she denies anything special happened.
• Mariko suggests it was her maid who was with Blackthorne, not her, to spare him embarrassment.
• Blackthorne grapples with the possibility that his romantic encounter had actually been with the maid, not Mariko.
• Mariko insists on her innocence, maintaining that no significant event took place and that if anything did happen, it would be without importance unless it was against the law.
• The conversation shifts to Blackthorne's family and the hardships after his father's death.
• Discussing the storm at sea, Mariko admits her fear, while Blackthorne reflects on his life and interactions with Mariko.
• Mariko deflects Blackthorne's attempts to discuss their relationship, emphasizing the need for caution.
• An attack rehearsal involving Yabu's forces demonstrates the potential destruction muskets can unleash on traditional samurai warfare.
• Jozen, an important general under Lord Ishido, demands the confiscation of the guns and the death of Blackthorne, whom Yabu refuses to kill without Ishido's command.
• Naga disregards Yabu's orders, seeking to avenge insults by killing Jozen and his men in front of Blackthorne.
• The death of Jozen and his men is gruesome, marked by moments of honor such as the ritual seppuku of two samurai.
• Blackthorne returns home feeling sickened by the lack of conscience and absence of sin in the people around him.
• A storm batters the village, only causing superficial damage due to the traditional building style suited to cope with natural disasters.
• After the storm, villagers quickly rebuild their homes, and Omi looks to establish a friendly rapport with Blackthorne.
• As he observes the resiliency and communal spirit of the villagers, Blackthorne continues to struggle with language and cultural barriers.